Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 5]

[captain_cynic]

hidetheelephants said:

Johnspex said:

Definitely not something I've always wanted to know as it only happened about noon today. I was in North Devon looking towards the sky but I don't know in which direction and I saw a large passenger aircraft being escorted by 4 fighters.
Any idea what I might have seen?

RAF air-to-air tankers are a militarised version of the Airbus A330, at least one of them has a union-jack livery so probably looks quite civilian.

The Airbus MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) based on the A330-200, called the Voyager in RAF service. Having a common wing design with the A340, the outer pylon attachment sites were repurposed for refuelling equipment. They're also used as personnel transports.

The RAF operates a few MRTTs, not just VIP transports. It could also be a E7 Wedgetail (AWAC) or P8 Poseidon (Maritime Patrol) as they're both based on a 737. I suspect the fighter escort was a bit more prosaic, an exercise to make sure the pilots keep their skills sharp.

[Pit Pony]

RizzoTheRat said:

horsemeatscandal said:

Why do English or English-speaking people put on an accent when speaking in a foreign language? Some people also do it when using foreign words in the middle of English sentences

Surely accents are just minor differences in the way different people pronounce words. If you're learning a foreign language you pronounce words the way you hear them, so will naturally pick up elements of the accent of the person who thought you. For example I've met several non-Americans with a noticeable American accent because they either learnt English from an American, or grew up watching American films so learned to pronounce words how they heard them.

Or foreign Football players in the Premiour League, who have learnt English whilst living in Manchester. And sound like a cross between Inspector Clouseau and Noel Gallagher.

[Rusty Old-Banger]

Pit Pony said:

RizzoTheRat said:

horsemeatscandal said:

Why do English or English-speaking people put on an accent when speaking in a foreign language? Some people also do it when using foreign words in the middle of English sentences

Surely accents are just minor differences in the way different people pronounce words. If you're learning a foreign language you pronounce words the way you hear them, so will naturally pick up elements of the accent of the person who thought you. For example I've met several non-Americans with a noticeable American accent because they either learnt English from an American, or grew up watching American films so learned to pronounce words how they heard them.

Or foreign Football players in the Premiour League, who have learnt English whilst living in Manchester. And sound like a cross between Inspector Clouseau and Noel Gallagher.

Peter Schmeichel being the one that springs to mind

[CivicDuties]

Pit Pony said:

RizzoTheRat said:

horsemeatscandal said:

Why do English or English-speaking people put on an accent when speaking in a foreign language? Some people also do it when using foreign words in the middle of English sentences

Surely accents are just minor differences in the way different people pronounce words. If you're learning a foreign language you pronounce words the way you hear them, so will naturally pick up elements of the accent of the person who thought you. For example I've met several non-Americans with a noticeable American accent because they either learnt English from an American, or grew up watching American films so learned to pronounce words how they heard them.

Or foreign Football players in the Premiour League, who have learnt English whilst living in Manchester. And sound like a cross between Inspector Clouseau and Noel Gallagher.

Jan Molby was my favourite example.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

CivicDuties said:

Jan Molby was my favourite example.

Frankie Dettori always raised a smile for me, orright innit

[Gladers01]

hidetheelephants said:

It's a listed building so they would have to ask the conservation officer at Westminster Council, who would probably say no.

That's a shame, according to google it was a dark green colour back in 1908 when the Liberals were in power

[48k]

Gladers01 said:

Does anyone know if the colour of the front door at 10 Downing Street could be changed to show the colour of the current party in power? Being black it makes the place look dull and dreary at the best of times. For example if Labour were to win the election would they be allowed to give the front door a new coat of red paint along with some hanging baskets to brighten the place up a little?

It used to be green, back in the old days. The bricks were a different colour too, but they were also painted dark (black or anthracite or whatever you want to call the shade) as well.

[48k]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

I'm a native English speaker. Yet we have some very strange pronunciation.

For example, i is u, e is i or u, a can be i or not.

Deck becomes dick, eggs become icx, can becomes kin, seven becomes sivin and ten becomes tin. Fish and chips becomes fush and chups.

And then words have different meanings, a dairy is a corner shop. Doesn't matter if it sells dairy products or not. Sweets are lollies, whether there's any lolly or not. Flip flops are jandals (Japanese sandals) and the Aussies call them thongs.

All very confusing!

chully bun vs eski for what the Brits would call a cool box.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

48k said:

It used to be green, back in the old days. The bricks were a different colour too, but they were also painted dark (black or anthracite or whatever you want to call the shade) as well.

That may, in part, be due to everything being black from soot back in the day. No joke.

[hidetheelephants]

Gladers01 said:

hidetheelephants said:

It's a listed building so they would have to ask the conservation officer at Westminster Council, who would probably say no.

That's a shame, according to google it was a dark green colour back in 1908 when the Liberals were in power

If there's a historical record or period photo of it then that can make a difference when asking to make cosmetic changes.

[Fatboy]

CivicDuties said:

Pit Pony said:

RizzoTheRat said:

horsemeatscandal said:

Why do English or English-speaking people put on an accent when speaking in a foreign language? Some people also do it when using foreign words in the middle of English sentences

Surely accents are just minor differences in the way different people pronounce words. If you're learning a foreign language you pronounce words the way you hear them, so will naturally pick up elements of the accent of the person who thought you. For example I've met several non-Americans with a noticeable American accent because they either learnt English from an American, or grew up watching American films so learned to pronounce words how they heard them.

Or foreign Football players in the Premiour League, who have learnt English whilst living in Manchester. And sound like a cross between Inspector Clouseau and Noel Gallagher.

Jan Molby was my favourite example.

A classic

Julio Giordio

[48k]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

48k said:

It used to be green, back in the old days. The bricks were a different colour too, but they were also painted dark (black or anthracite or whatever you want to call the shade) as well.

That may, in part, be due to everything being black from soot back in the day. No joke.

Correct - the bricks were originally yellow and became stained due to pollution, which was discovered when renovations took place in the 1960s. So now the bricks are painted black.

[hidetheelephants]

48k said:

Clockwork Cupcake said:

48k said:

It used to be green, back in the old days. The bricks were a different colour too, but they were also painted dark (black or anthracite or whatever you want to call the shade) as well.

That may, in part, be due to everything being black from soot back in the day. No joke.

Correct - the bricks were originally yellow and became stained due to pollution, which was discovered when renovations took place in the 1960s. So now the bricks are painted black.

That is quite disappointing. Unless they're crumbly they should be left uncovered.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

hidetheelephants said:

That is quite disappointing. Unless they're crumbly they should be left uncovered.

Where do you draw the line though? The White House was originally natural sandstone and was painted white after the British torched it.

[hidetheelephants]

That was in-period and after it was sacked by the redcoats; slapping a coat of sandtex on it in the 60s is just Barry Bucknell.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

hidetheelephants said:

That was in-period and after it was sacked by the redcoats; slapping a coat of sandtex on it in the 60s is just Barry Bucknell.

Ok but hopefully you get my point. Which was at what point do you set the period that you want to preserve?

[mikey_b]

48k said:

Correct - the bricks were originally yellow and became stained due to pollution, which was discovered when renovations took place in the 1960s. So now the bricks are painted black.

That ‘renovation’ was little short of a complete rebuild behind the front walls. The building was in a terrible state structurally.

[Alickadoo]

48k said:

Gladers01 said:

Does anyone know if the colour of the front door at 10 Downing Street could be changed to show the colour of the current party in power? Being black it makes the place look dull and dreary at the best of times. For example if Labour were to win the election would they be allowed to give the front door a new coat of red paint along with some hanging baskets to brighten the place up a little?

It used to be green, back in the old days. The bricks were a different colour too, but they were also painted dark (black or anthracite or whatever you want to call the shade) as well.

When?

[stemll]

Alickadoo said:

48k said:

Gladers01 said:

Does anyone know if the colour of the front door at 10 Downing Street could be changed to show the colour of the current party in power? Being black it makes the place look dull and dreary at the best of times. For example if Labour were to win the election would they be allowed to give the front door a new coat of red paint along with some hanging baskets to brighten the place up a little?

It used to be green, back in the old days. The bricks were a different colour too, but they were also painted dark (black or anthracite or whatever you want to call the shade) as well.

When?

Asquith had the door painted green in 1908, as other posters above have said the bricks were painted after renovations in the early 60s revealed that they were actually yellow. It was also number 5 until the street was renumbered in 1779